Scope and Content

Most of the collection consists of handwritten copies of original documents relating in the main to the development of East Leake, Nottinghamshire, but also concerning West Leake, Keyworth and Tollerton in Nottinghamshire and Wymeswold in Leicestershire. These copies were made by Sidney Potter in the late 19th/early 20th century from documents dating from 1329. They include maps and plans, property documents, manorial court material and extracts from parish registers. Two early original documents are present: a feoffment of the Manor of East Leake (1569) and a conveyance of premises in East Leake (1646).

Potter's own research notes and annotations provide references to additional material. The later material is supplemented by volumes of newspaper cuttings and some correspondence. A manuscript volume of Potter's History of East Leake(1903) is also present. The collection includes a list of 91 plants collected in the Nottinghamshire parishes of Bunny and East Leake.

Administrative / Biographical History

Sidney Pell Potter, Rector of East and West Leake, Nottinghamshire, 1888-1915, was a keen amateur local historian, with interests which included not only the development of communities close to his parish but also local field names, dialect words and plants. He was the author of a number of local history books and pamphlets, including A History of East Leake (1903), A History of Wymeswold (1913) and A History of Tollerton (1929).

While carrying out research for his books, Potter consulted a number of original documents, copies of which have been brought together with his research notes to create this artificial collection.

Arrangement

The documents have been split into four sections according to date of accession, and arranged chronologically within sections.

Conditions Governing Access

ACCESS: Accessible to all registered readers.

REPROGRAPHIC: Photocopies and photographic copies can be supplied for educational use and private study purposes only, depending on the condition of the documents.

Other Finding Aids

NOTE: Copyright on all Finding Aids belongs to the University of Nottingham.

In the Reading Room, University of Nottingham Library: Typescript Catalogue, 6 pp

At the National Register of Archives, London: Typescript Catalogue, 6 pp

Conditions Governing Use

COPYRIGHT: Identification of copyright holders of unpublished material is often difficult. Permission to make any published use of any material from the collection must be sought in advance in writing from the Keeper of the Department of Manuscripts and Special Collections (email mss-library@nottingham.ac.uk ). The Department will try to assist in identifying copyright owners but the responsibility for copyright clearance before publication ultimately rests with the reader.

LANGUAGE: English.

Custodial History

The papers came to the University library as four separate accessions from 1930 onwards.